If you're planning on adding a pure breed kitten to your home, you may be considering getting one from a breeder. How do you know which breeders are reputable, and which are backyard operations promoting unhealthy felines? This helpful breeder checklist can help you identify the best cat breeders and discount individuals who may well be unethical or novice.
What exactly is a Good Cat Breeder?
A reputable breeder is someone who:
breeds cats to better a particular breed, never to profit from selling kittens.
has expert knowledge of the specific breed standard.
registers their kittens and cats with the CFA (Cat Fancier Association).
has a waitlist of buyers, not an excess of kittens.
can explain the purpose of breeding a specific sire to a certain queen.
understands common genetic health conditions and checks their queens and sires before mating.
tests their queens, sires, and kittens for contagious viruses, and supplies the result to potential buyers.
can provide complete veterinary records from their vet.
can provide a copy of the cats' pedigrees, not simply registration papers.
participates in Cat Fancier Association shows.can offer personal references from a veterinarian and other buyers.
only sells kittens to average customers as neutered pets, not as breeding animals.
requires that you sign a binding agreement outlining your rights as a buyer and responsibilities as a pet owner.
asks you questions about your household, lifestyle, family members, other animal companions, and ability to take care of a pet.
will answer your concerns about health and wellness, proper grooming, and behavior after your purchase.
Potential Red Flags
If you're not sure if the breeder you're considering is a good one, beware of these warning signs. Look out for the cattery owner who:
breeds many types of cats.
has litters of kittens readily available constantly.
provides unsigned registration papers, or papers missing the breeder's name.
sells kittens to pet stores or other retail stores.
can't produce veterinary records or proposes that the customer deal with veterinary care.
doesn't allow you to observe the cattery or where the cats are kept.
registers kittens and cats with a registry other than the CFA.
sells kittens to buyers on the web or by mail order.
sells kittens at a young age (6-8 weeks) or as soon as they are weaned.
advertises on the web or in classified ads -- in general, professional breeders do not need advertising since their kittens are sought-after.
If you research thoroughly and inquire before you purchase, you can feel confident that you're not supporting an unethical breeder or kitten mill -- and that you will be adding a happy, healthy kitty to your family.
